I Screamed at My Local Trader Joe's When I Found Vegan Queso — but Is It Any Good?!

Updated on 2/9/2019 at 1:13 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

I gave up dairy in the beginning of college, and except for a few years during my two pregnancies where I ate it to get more protein in my vegetarian diet, dairy hasn't really been part of my life. And that means neither has queso. Until now. Trader Joe's now has Cashew Fiesta Dip. As a plant-based eater, it was my duty to buy some; I had to report on whether or not it was actually good. I prayed to the vegan gods that it was.

Vegans, Rejoice!

Trader Joe's came out with its Cashew Fiesta Dip in December, but I hadn't been able to find it until now, more than a month later. I squealed like a baby sloth when I saw it on the shelf. Of course, I immediately posted it to my Instagram (as anyone would do in this excited situation) with the caption: "Please be yummy!"

What's in It?

Before committing to buying a tub (or 12), I flipped it over to see what exactly was in this cashew dip — was it full of crap? Pleasantly pleased, I found cashews (duh), potatoes, carrots, onions, green chili peppers, tomato paste, sea salt, vinegar, garlic powder, and jalapeño peppers — all organic and all whole-food ingredients!

But Is It Healthy?

When I checked out the nutritional info, I discovered that for a two-tablespoon serving, it's just 30 calories! It has no added sugar and isn't too high in sodium at just 150 milligrams. Although it surprisingly has less than one gram of protein (I thought being made from cashews, it would have way more), it does offer two grams of fiber. It got the green light! Into the cart it went!

The Real Question — How Does It Taste?

I have spent hundreds of dollars on vegan "cheese" products, and many of them tasted worse than feet. So when I opened this Cashew Fiesta Dip, I was definitely skeptical — but still hopeful. So far, Trader Joe's hasn't disappointed me with its vegan alternatives to dairy-full products. I'm a huge fan of the Soy Creamy Ice Cream, vegan cream cheese, and best of all, the vegan Cashew, Kale, and Basil Pesto.

So how did this taste? At first glance, the consistency was thicker than I expected, more like hummus than a liquidy cheese sauce. I grabbed my favorite tortilla chip (Late July Organic Sea Salt & Lime), dipped, bit, and was speechless. Creamy, cheesy, slightly sweet (thanks to the cashews), and with just a touch of zesty spice. It was yummy! More than yummy, actually. It was downright delicious.

And the slow clap goes to . . . Trader Joe's! My family and I polished off half the container in a matter of three minutes. It was perfect for chips but also complemented raw veggies. It made a great addition to my burrito, and I loved having a dollop on my Mexican-inspired grain bowl.

I was such a huge fan that I went back to my local Trader Joe's two days later, but sadly, there was no sign of it on the shelf. I asked an employee where my blessed queso was, and she said there's been such a high demand that they couldn't keep up with production. She wasn't sure when it would be back in stock. Um, what? I stared at her in disbelief. I mean, I just fell in love with this dip, and now it's gone?

Apparently, it wasn't just me who was floored by the flavor. Would asking her to text me when it came in be considered taking things too far? Maybe, but maybe not — this dip was that good.

Good thing I still have a little left. I'll have to ration it out and keep it hidden from my kids and my husband. Shhh, don't tell them! And the minute you see it at Trader Joe's, can someone please text me?